MLB rumors: Why Tarik Skubal could sign inevitable massive free agency contract before December appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tarik Skubal is expected to be the top free agent during the upcoming offseason. There is one huge twist to this specific offseason, though, as MLB and the MLBPA continue to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. With the threat of a lockout looming, Skubal may want to sign his inevitable massive contract before the early December deadline for a lockout. During a recent appearance on Foul Territory, MLB insider Ken Rosenthal provided in-depth analysis of Skubal’s MLB free agency outlook.
“Scott Boras (Skubal’s agent) is going to want the best deal possible, he’s going to want a record free agent deal for a pitcher… The advantage of signing before would be, yes, it’s all done, and whatever system is in place once the lockout ends, Skubal will be signed,” Rosenthal said. “They won’t have to worry about it. Knowing Boras, if he doesn’t get the deal he wants, he will wait.”
Rosenthal then shared an example of how Corey Seager and Marcus Semien signed contracts before the most recent MLB lockout happened.
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“I would think Boras is going to try to do the same thing, use the deadline to his advantage,” Rosenthal continued. “Teams are still going to want Tarik Skubal. The advantage to teams would be get him under contract, figure out the rest later. And I would expect that, yes, he will sign before, unless for some reason teams are skittish because they don’t know the landscape that’s coming, that said, they’re gonna want the player.
“And if I had a bet, I would bet pre-December 1 for Skubal.”
Tarik Skubal is arguably the best pitcher in the game. He will sign a big contract, it just remains to be seen if he will land his new deal before December. Rosenthal believes that is the likeliest outcome.
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